No, yeah, no... the rear arm bearings are (allegedly) related to my defective tyres, or rather the rear arms have lead to the tyres becoming defective. I don't believe that either, but I know they need to be done, but I don't think they're going to be done by these people, even if they are so called Citroen specialists... I think they are quoting way over the odds for the jobs that need doing.

In all, there are three issues.

Steering - that seems to have cleared up nicely with new tyres and a LHM flush and refill

Early morning PAS workout - see above, but also possible HP pump thing?

Rear arm bearings - wearing out the tyres on the inside track... and the back and groans and squeaks like nobodies business... but that's fixed with a good squirt of WD40 every couple of weeks.

Yeah, I know the feeling. I'm quite happy to change the oil and filters, flush the LHM, change the spheres etc, but I get jittery when I start playing about with really important things like steering, suspension and brakes... If I blow up the engine, well, that's my own fault, but if a dodgy bodge I've done under the car leaves me or my family upside down...

Well that's the thing. Until I've gone a few miles from cold, the steering is dead heavy, with intermittent assistance. Once it's warmed up... no problems.

There's no issues with the PAS once it's up to temperature... so perhaps there is a pump issue. It is certainly better now I've changed the LHM and cleaned the filters... but perhaps a recon pump and a new accumulator would be beneficial?

As Jon and I have both stated the accumulator will not affect the steering. It is however an important part of the suspension and steering circuits and must be in good order. I have set out a procedure for testing it.

If the steering is heavy on one side the problem probably lies in the pinion valve rather than the flow divider which will operate indetically whichever way the steering is turned.

You will probably find the steering problem gets worse over the next week or so. This is due to the LHM molecules getting mashed up as the oil is pumped and circulated and after a little it settles down and stays about constant for the rest of its life.

You need a vice that has at least a 4" jaw opening, and is big/heavy enough that you can mount the whole rear arm in it, and then hit it with a 3lb clubhammer.

The other piece of equipment needed on standby is a mig welder. One of the races in Kitch's rear arm was so rusted/siezed that it was just laughing at the attempts to knock it out. Thus, a number of rings of weld were run around it, which shrinks the bearing a bit, and gives you something big to hit. Granted that's a worst-case scenario, but you can guarantee that if there isn't a welder available, then you'll need one.

The only other noteworthy tools that you need are two 24mm drivers of some sort (sockets or spanners)